Alex Garland’s Annihilation film casts Jane The Virgin star

It’s been a while since we heard any news about Alex Garland’s upcoming film of Jeff Vandermeer’s awesome sci-fi novel Annihilation, the first book in his Southern Reach trilogy, but now there’s some very exciting casting buzz.

The Wrap reports that Jane The Virgin star Gina Rodriguez is in talks to join Natalie Portman in the film about “a group of women who take on a dangerous mission where the laws of nature don’t apply. The group consists of an anthropologist; a surveyor; a psychologist who serves as the group’s de facto leader; and a biologist, who serves as the narrator.”

They also say that Frances McDormand is rumoured to star, which would make this even more awesome. There’s no mention of who Rodriguez or McDormand would be playing, however…

Now, those Star Wars: Episode VIIIrumours surrounding Rodriguez are starting to look a little less likely, as Annihilation is aiming for a spring 2016 start date which would match her Jane The Virgin schedule. Would she have time for both projects? We certainly hope so.

Here’s the synopsis for the novel from Amazon, for those who’d like a little more detail.

“Welcome to Area X. An Edenic wilderness, an environmental disaster zone, a mystery for thirty years.

For thirty years, Area X, monitored by the secret agency known as the Southern Reach, has remained mysterious and remote behind its intangible border– an environmental disaster zone, though to all appearances an abundant wilderness. Eleven expeditions have been sent in to investigate; even for those that have made it out alive, there have been terrible consequences.

‘Annihilation’ is the story of the twelfth expedition and is told by its nameless biologist. Introverted but highly intelligent, the biologist brings her own secrets with her. She is accompanied by a psychologist, an anthropologist and a surveyor, their stated mission: to chart the land, take samples and expand the Southern Reach’s understanding of Area X.

But they soon find out that they are being manipulated by forces both strange and all too familiar. An unmapped tunnel is not as it first appears. An inexplicable moaning calls in the distance at dusk. And while each member of the expedition has surrendered to the authority of the Southern Reach, the power of Area X is far more difficult to resist.”